Iglesia de San Marcos (30)

The Iglesia de San Marcos [St. Mark’s Church], which lends its name to the plaza on which it stands, is one of the most interesting gothic-Mudejar combinations in the city. It was built on the minaret base of an old mosque. You’ll find a wide array of styles and decorations, owing to the many fires that the church has endured over the years, the last of which was in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War.

The combination of styles is apparent in the gothic façade that faces the Plaza de San Marcos, standing in stark contrast to its Mudejar tower. The church’s structure, with three naves separated by ornate arches, also follows the typical style of Mudejar churches in Seville.

Once inside, on the far left, you will see a beautiful statue of Saint Mark holding a book and a feather, attributed to Juan de Mesa. Furthermore, the naves contain some interesting sepulchral headstones from the 17th century. In the past, the church had a second statue of Saint Mark, but it disappeared, most likely in one of the fires.

The church’s tower was built in the 14th century, and as a quick glance will reveal, its decoration is heavily inspired by the Giralda, especially the upper section. The rectangular tower stands 22 metres tall and the exterior windows are placed at different heights, in order to avoid the layout of the inner staircase.

The Capilla de los Dolores is semi-detached, home of the “Hermandad de los Servitas,” a brotherhood that on Easter Saturday participates in the procession with two floats, the “Virgen de los Dolores con el Cristo de la Providencia en sus brazos,” created by Montes de Oca in 1730, and the “Virgen de la Soledad,” created by Castillo Lastrucci in 1968.

Finally, if you go to the back of the temple, in the rear plaza, there is the Convento de Santa Isabel, which dates to 1490 and was used as a women’s prison in the 19th century.